Sunday, June 16, 2013

The Price of Love

Reader, I have the daunting task of going through all my boxes of things that are stacked in the garage, things that moved over here 8 years ago and have been sitting there ever since.

I'm following the 80/20 rule while sorting it: 80% of that shit is not making it to the new house. Now, some of it is good stuff that has just been waiting for a bigger home in which to sprawl out.

Most of it is just shit I can't believe I moved to begin with.

And then sometimes, buried in the boxes, a little gem rises to the top. And while it's not a necessity, it's one of those things that has been granted a stay of execution, and shall join us in the new house.

This letter is one of those little gems, written by my nephew, I don't know how old, around 7 or 8 would be my guess. He's a Marine now.

I read it and my heart melted a little, and I think an, "awwwww!" escaped my lips. My nephews used to like spending time at Aunt Trixie's, because it was pizza and movies and all sorts of things that Aunt's allow.

So I took the letter upstairs, to put it away for safe keeping. And that's when I discovered The Rest of the Story:

And that became my new favorite part of the letter. I know what loving me is worth: 50 points of extra credit.

Throw a surprise party - CHECK! Kenny's 40th, Linda's 60th, My moms way back in the day.

Publish a piece of fiction

Have an offshore bank account - tried to do this in Grand Caymen, it's tougher than getting married! Letters of reference, bank statements..they want a lot of stuff to float my 50large around down there.

Swim with dolpins - check

Drink Guinness in an Irish Pub

Drink wine under the Tuscan sun - check

Use a bidet - CHECK! Trip to Italy 2006ish?

Swim in tropical waters - check

See the sun rise and set over the ocean in the same day - CHECK! Florida. We watched the sun set on the one coast, drove across the state, got up in the morning and watched the sun rise of the east coast the next morning.

Go on a safari

Ride in a helicopter - CHECK! During my "married to a policeman" years, friends with the police chopper pilot, took a few spins over the glorious city of Cleveland.

Whitewater rafting - CHECK! Back in my younger/married/unwiser years, rafted in WV, the Gulley River was one of 'em. Lived to tell about it.

Skydive - CHECK! During married/unwiser/braver years. Three times, I did. I was brave, had to do it again, and again to prove it wasn't just hormones, but actual braveness.